© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Welcome to © 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. DI_Intro_2007.ppt Destination ImagiNation ®

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Overview What is Destination ImagiNation ® ?  Philosophy and Goals  International membership  Program structure  Team Challenges for program year Participation The DI Season Parents’ roles Reasons to be a Destination ImagiNation ® Team Manager Who we are, why we do it, and why the participants have fun!

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Destination ImagiNation ® is...  Teams may choose to solve one of 6 Team Challenges.  The challenges emphasize structural, technical, artistic, improvisational or performance elements.  Teams also compete in an Instant Challenge on Tournament Day. Students discover problem-solving techniques

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Destination ImagiNation ® teaches... Total Team-generated Solution without parent/adult “interference” –Creative problem-solving –Teamwork to solve a complex challenge No single answer (Challenges are open-ended) Balance time, budget, creative ideas –Presentation skills All in a supportive environment where all ideas are team generated so that team members have ownership of the solution.

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. What This Means to Destination ImagiNation ® Participants… Colleges and employers are actively looking for students who have had experience with teamwork, creative problem solving, and innovative thinking. Destination ImagiNation ® teaches students real life skills in teamwork, creative problem solving, and innovative thinking. Colleges & employers are looking for Destination ImagiNation ® participants!

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Destination ImagiNation ® Program Structure Teams form in the fall (5-7 participants) Throughout the program year, they work as a team to solve a central Team Challenge using creative problem solving tools Teams practice instant problem-solving through Instant Challenges and Improvisation What they learn during this process are the tangible rewards of the program The culmination of their work is showcased at Destination ImagiNation ® tournaments Tournaments are incredible expositions of the teams’ creativity

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Teams use art, technology and performance as they tackle one of five Team Challenges. Team Challenge solutions can take from several weeks to several months to develop. Teams must do research and experimentation needed to solve every aspect of the Team Challenge and develop a Presentation that demonstrates the team’s solution. Teams work together to solve complex problems Destination ImagiNation ® – Team Challenge

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Team Challenges for A: A: Operation Cooperation Educational Focus: Technical Design and Construction, Innovation and Design Process, Research, Experi- mentation, Strategic Planning, Theater Arts, Teamwork Design and construct two Machines that travel and complete Tasks. Choose up to 12 Tasks for the Machines to complete cooperatively. Create and present a Story about cooperation that is set in part in a Nation other than your own. Create two Side Trips and integrate them into the Presentation Go to for complete Challenge descriptions

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Team Challenges for B: Instinct Messaging Educational Focus: Theater Arts (Play writing, Scenic Design and Construction, Performing), Animal Science, Research, Teamwork Create and present a theatrical Presentation with an original Story that demonstrates creature communication. Learn about one Featured Creature and two real methods it uses to communicate. Design and build a Costume to communicate a message sent by your Featured Creature. Construct one or more three-dimensional set pieces that depict a real-life habitat for your Featured Creature. Create two Side Trips and integrate them into the Presentation Go to for complete Challenge descriptions

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. C: C: ViDIo Lit Hits Educational Focus: Playwriting, Literature, Fine Arts/Theater Arts (Music, Choreography), Technical Design and Construction, and Design Process, Teamwork Create a live Music ViDIo that Dramatically Retells a piece of Literature. Integrate Music and team-created Lyrics into the Music ViDIo. Dramatically portray a Character from the chosen piece of Literature. Create and integrate Choreography into the ViDIo. Create and present a Grand Entrance or Grand Exit using Technical Methods. Create two Side Trips and integrate them into the Presentation Team Challenges for Go to for complete Challenge descriptions

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. D: D: Private DI Educational Focus: Improvisational Acting, Story Development, Theater Arts, Team Work, Technical Innovation Create an Improvisational Skit about the Origin of a randomly selected Superstition in a 30-minute timed period at the Tournament. Present the Skit using the styles of three different randomly selected film genres Integrate a Sleuth, randomly selected from a list of historical and fictional detectives the team has previously researched, into the Skit. Create an Origin for the Superstition. Create a Superstition Origin Detector that physically moves and contributes to solving the mystery of the Origin of the Superstition Integrate a randomly selected Surprise! Team Challenges for Go to for complete Challenge descriptions

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Go to for complete Challenge descriptions Design, build, and test a two-part Structure made completely of wood and glue. Create and present a Story about the merging of two forms of art to create a new form of artistic expression. Create and present a merged Art form. Create two Side Trips and integrate them into the Presentation Team Challenges for E: E: A New Angle Educational Focus: Structural Engineering, Construction, Research, Innovation and Design Process, Mathematics, Theater Arts, Teamwork

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. projectOUTREACH® Challenge Take Charge! Focus: Service Learning, Research, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Youth Empowerment, Teamwork, Marketing, Communication, Project Management The Project: Mobilize peers to improve nutrition and fitness behaviors in schools. The Tournament: –Make an entertaining Presentation that actively enlightens the public about the Project. –Prepare an Exhibit to visually communicate the process and accomplishments of your implementation of the Project. –Document the goals, research and process of your Project. –Devise procedures on the spot for solving a “real-life” problem in the Simulation. Team Challenges for Go to for complete Challenge descriptions

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Go to for complete Challenge descriptions Rising Stars! ® : Rising Stars! ® : Hidden! Educational Focus: Imagining Possibilities, Storytelling, Research, Science, Mathematics, Performing in front of an audience, Team problem solving, Working with others Team Challenges for A non-competitive Team Challenge for 4-7 year olds Sh-h-h-h. Peek around. Do you see something Hidden? Did you ever wonder what goes on when you shut the refrigerator door? When an ant scurries into an ant hill? When a whale swallows a school of fish? Close your eyes! Let your imagination travel. Imagine what happens in a HIDDEN place! Make up a play. In the play the characters have to solve a problem. Keep looking! Do you see a gadget? Let the story unfold, a story to be told. It’s all up to you!

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Instant Challenges teach young people to think quickly with confidence Instant Challenges teach participants to take what life is handing them moment to moment. These Challenges spark and quickly capture the team members’ wild imaginations by requiring them to solve a challenge quickly and decisively. Destination ImagiNation ® – Instant Challenge

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. What’s Expected of Participants They must be willing to work as part of a team Choose & develop the solution Listen, evaluate and build upon teammates’ ideas Generate and focus on options for the team’s solution Present the solution Teamwork teaches leadership and compromise

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. The DI Program Season Team building exercises Understanding the Team Challenge Application of Creative Problem Solving process Generating and focusing of ideas and options Working, refining, and more refining  Technical elements, props, costumes, script... Lots of practice for Instant Challenge Local trips for junk and supplies Practice dry-run (town or school presentation) Tournament time (when it all comes together!) And lots of snacks

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Rough Schedule Intro Destination ImagiNation ® Meeting SEPTOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAY Team Member & Team Manager Trainings & Workshops SILICON VALLEY TOURNAMENT FEB. or MARCH 2009 STATE TOURNAMENT APRIL 2009 GLOBAL FINALS* * Top teams advance Time flies when you’re having fun Finalizing, refining solutions Props, artwork, costumes, scripts “Crunch” time, rehearse And more Instant Challenges Brainstorming ideas Research & experimentation Creating the presentation More Instant Challenges Learning to work as a team Instant Challenges Understanding the Team Challenge

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Volunteer/Parent Roles Team Manager/Assistant –Most rewarding roles Tournament Officials and Volunteers –All levels of competition Workshops & Trainings –Skill presentations –Other volunteer positions Parent helper –Snacks, errands –Transporting/storing props –Skill presentations Support their children and the Program Volunteers make this program possible

© 2007 Destination ImagiNation, Inc. JOIN A TEAM NOW!